Time and again we hear of troubled gambit of toxins in toys. Preschools throughout Sweden will "poison-sanitized". It is of course good. Who can argue that kids should have a non-toxic environment? And surely much can be done to minimize our children's exposure to toxic chemicals.

Toys has a new and very strict legislation banning toxic substances and minimize risks to children will be injured by products. New, legal toys is simply chemically safe products. And the risks of playing with these is minimized as far as reasonably possible.

Plastic is often cited as a problematic material in these contexts. And often is it plasticizers (phthalates) that it refers. The truth however is that most dangerous phthalates have been banned in toys since 1999. And when new research finds other chemical substances that proves to be problematic, so they are taken to the list of what is forbidden or restricted. Few consumers and journalists realize how strict rules for toys fact: for example, a plastic spoon as a child pretending to feed her doll with are more strictly regulated than a proper utensil a child uses when it eats!

It can certainly be a good idea to review the environment in schools and in other public places, and even in our Swedish homes. But to throw all the toys and children's products purchased before 2007 seem to be a bit irrational. By to the contrast, to throw out things that are not toys may be a good idea. Old mobile phones and other products are not intended for young children, should of course not be in their everyday environment. Also, floors, walls, paint, objects that come into contact with food and beverages, as well as other internal environment may need to be reviewed. An important factor is also cleaning, then a lot of the problems found in indoor dust.

An example of the problems in preschools highlighted terms beads. The media image of the ordinary product is that the beads are not toxic in themselves, but if they push so arises toxic vapors. Probably this is something that hangs from the 70' when it was PVC in the beads. Today recommended that the beads are added to adhesive sheets, but if you still want to emphasize that it should be done under the hood to remove the vineager smell that in itself is not dangerous. But there are many other examples where parents and staff are worried unnecessarily.

Since it is a fact that there are toys and childcare articles which do not measure up. And that's because the unscrupulous and shady companies choose to import cheap, illegal products. But these will not be accessed through tougher legislation, but through improved market surveillance by the authorities. Something we from the industry supports wholeheartedly. We also want to clean up, and especially the market of shady business and illegal products. However, we are doubtful that it can be environmentally sound to discard all plastic toys in a kindergarten based on the fact that the market controls of new toys found isolated specimens that do not meet legal requirements.

This text is from the Lek- och Babybranschen in 2015. They work for the healthy development of the industry, from both a financial and ethical perspective.